B.A.R.B.E.R.S.H.O.P.
This program works to overcome traditional barriers to mental health care in Black and Brown communities. It transforms trusted barber shops into safe places to discuss physical and mental health. In doing that, it delivers a culturally tailored approach to suicide prevention in familiar, comfortable environments.
Program Overview
B.A.R.B.E.R.S.H.O.P. stands for Bringing Awareness and Resources to Barbershops to Empower Resilience, Support Health, Overcome stigma, and Prevent suicide. This program provides culturally-tailored suicide prevention services in familiar, comfortable environments — trusted community barbershops. B.A.R.B.E.R.S.H.O.P. creates in-shop events on many topics, including conversations about suicide prevention. The project team distributes gun locks and naloxone, and even brings local physicians into shops to discuss high blood pressure, heart disease, substance use, and other issues that impact Black men.
at 20+ barbershops in Wake County
Program Impact
Often, Black men focus on being a provider for themselves and their families. As a result, they may never attend to their physical and mental health needs. In fact, many simply avoid physical and mental health care because of stigma. B.A.R.B.E.R.S.H.O.P. changes that narrative by leveraging trusted community barbershops as key intervention points. This approach overcomes traditional barriers to both physical and mental health care for Black men. It creates safe spaces and empowers conversations around physical health, suicide prevention, mental health, and more.
- The project team began using barbershops as intervention points in 2018 and formed a nonprofit to partner with a group of barbershops in 2022.
- Barbershops host health fairs, address health issues like high blood pressure, and have followed up with 50+ men on blood pressure concerns.
- Dialogue also centers on mental health and suicide prevention to identify and address Black men who are at risk
- The program reduces suicide rates and improves mental health outcomes in Black and Brown communities.
- Barbershops receive banners that explain the program and materials on 988 to provide to customers.
- In recent years, the program shifted focus to reducing Black youth suicide rates.
- Plans exist to scale B.A.R.B.E.R.S.H.O.P. to 16 counties across North Carolina identified by the NC Black Youth Suicide Commission.
News and Articles
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CBS17.com
Raleigh barbershop prioritizing health for their customers, community. -
WRAL News
Gun safety advocates are visiting barbershops and consultants are working with barbers in training about the importance of a gun lock. -
CBS17.com
Free haircuts to be given to Southeast Raleigh residents to help heal after deadly stabbing at high school.
